Diaphragm control for multilens cameras



June 3, 1952 F. WALLER ETAL DAPx-IRAGM CONTROL FOR MULTILENS CAMERAS 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 Filed Oct. 9, 1948 HII . I Il lll l ,f Lmimililiwll n l 6 ,f ll ll!| IlI un!" Il u l Ill ATTORNEY June 3, 1952 F. WALLER ETAL DIAPHRAGM CONTROL FOR MULTILENS CAMERAS Filed 001'.. 9, 1948 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 SMM* ATTO RN EYS I Patented June 3, 1952 DIAPHRAGM CONTROL FOR MULTILENS CAMERAS Fred Waller and Richard C. Babish, Huntington, N. Y., assignors to The Vitarama Corporation, Huntington Station, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application October 9, 1948, Serial No. 53,733

. 8 Claims. l

This invention relates to diaphragm controls for lenses, especially the lenses of multi-camera structures of the type that are used for taking several pictures simultaneously and 'from different angles so that'th'e pictures can be projected on a common screen to make a mosaic picture. A

It is an objectof the invention to provide an improved multi-camera structure in which lenses for taking mosaic pictures are located much closer together than previously with resulting reduction in the mismatching of the individual pictures when the latter are projected on a common screen to make the mosaic picture.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved apparatus for controlling the diaphragm opening of a lens, and the construction of the invention is such that the size of the lens mount for a given lens is greatly reduced as compared with lens mounts having diaphragm controls ofthe prior art. For certain sizes of lenses this invention make possible lens mounts having only one-half the width of previous mounts.

Some features of the invention relate to constructions for effecting simultaneous diaphragm control for a number of different movable lens mounts from a common diaphragm adjusting device at a xed location. With this invention such control is obtained in spite of longitudinal movement of the individual lens mounts to change their focus, and in spite of transverse movements ofthe lens mounts to prevent parallax errors resulting from the focusing movement.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will appear or be pointed out as the description proceeds.

In the drawing, forming a part hereof in which like reference characters indicate corresponding parts in all the views,

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view showing three diaphragm controls of this invention connected with and operated by a common diaphragm adjusting device at a xed location. V

Figure 2 is a top plan view showing the actual relation of the lenses of Figure 1 when assembled in a multicamera structure for taking the individual pictures that are to be used to make a mosaic picture.

Figure 3 is an enlarged Vsectional View through one of the lens mounts of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a vertical, sectional view showing the actual structure of the control mechanism and one of the lens support assemblies that is illustrated diagrammatically in Figure 1.

The structure shown.- in Figure 1 includes 3 lens supports I I, I2 and I3 that carry lens mounts I5, I6 and I1, respectively. Each of these lens supports is movable longitudinally, in a direction generally parallel to the optical axis of its lens, to change the focus or the lens. The two outside lens supports II and I3 are preferably movable transversely, at the same time that they move longitudinally, in order to prevent parallax errors that would result from the movement of the lenses to change their focus.

The lens support has two spaced blocks 2I and 22 connected to it in xed relation with one another. These blocks 2| and 22 provide bearings for lead screws 24 and 25. There are threads on the lead screws between the bearing blocks 2| and 22, but the lead screws have end bearings that rotate in the bearing blocks 2I and 22.

A slide block 21 has threads that t the lead screw 24 so that the slide block 21 moves lengthwise along the lead screw as a nut when the lead screw is rotated. The rearward face of the slide block 21 is at and moves along the front face of the support I2. slide block 21 from turning with the lead screw.

A similar slide block 29 is threaded on the lead screw 25 and has a nat rearward face that moves along the front face ofthe support I2 to prevent the slide block 29 from turning with the lead screw 25. On the upper portions of the lead screws 24 and 25 there are meshing spur gears 3I and 32, respectively. Rotation of either of the lead screws 24 and 25 causes rotation of the other lead screw in the opposite direction as a result of their connection through the gears 3| and 32. Both of the lead screws 24 and 25 have the same kind of thread, that is, right hand or left hand, and the slide blocks 21 and 29, therefore, always move in opposite directions.

There is a diaphragm control plate 35 connected to the slide block 21 by screws 36; and another diaphragm control plate 38 is connected with the slide block 29 by screws 39. These diaphragm control plates 35 and 38 extend downwardly through a slot 40 (Fig. 3) in the lens mount I6 and into the space between the elements of the lens in the lens mount. There are similar openings 4I through both of the diaphragm control plates 35' and 38. When. the slide blocks 21 and 29 are in one relation with one another, the diaphragm control plates 35 and 38 are so positioned that their openings 4I register and provide the maximum diaphragm opening for the lens.

As the lead screws 24 and 25 (Fig. 1) are rotated to cause the diaphragm control plates 35 v and 38 to move in opposite directions, the open- 'Ihis fiat face prevents thev ings 4I no longer register with one another and merely overlap to a greater or lesser degree depending upon the extent of movement of the plates 35 and 38 from their positions that provide the maximum diaphragm opening. Dinerent shapes of openings 4I can be used, such as hexagonal r square openings, and the openings are preferably positioned so as to make one diagonal of the geometrical shape extend vertically. With such an orientation vthe diaphragm opening, when it becomes small, is limited to a central area of the lens.

Diaphragm control plates, similar to the plates and 38 already described, and indicated by similar reference characters, are used with the lens mounts I5 and I'I. These diaphragm control plates for the lens mounts I5 and l1 are operated by mechanism similar to that described for the lens mount I6, and are also indicated by the same reference characters.

Theupper end ofV the leadscrew24 is connected by a flexible shaft, 4,4; to aspur gear that is supported by and rotatable on a framev 45- at a fixed location in the multi-camera structure. Twoother spur gearsr48, carried by the frame 46, mesh with thegear d end are, eenneeted. by. flexibleshafts to the lead screws 2,5 of the lens supports II, and l;3. The reason forv connecting the flexible shafts 5 0 withl the lead screws 2K5 while the flexible shaft; 44 is cqnnectedwviththe mad screw 241s tccempensate for the feet-ther theiiexible shafts 5,0 turn in the opposite directionl from the shaft 4 4;

The gear 4,5,issecured to, thellower end of a shaft 52. A spur gear 5 3is secured-to the shaft 52 at a higher level. and: another suur sfeer, 54 turns freely. en the. Shaft 52;- A. limb, 5.55 is.; ettached; te the, upper end; of. the-shait; and.. is used, tov rotate the shaftI f orslow,k and accurate adjustment 0f. the diaphragm openings. gears 53; and 5,4mesh with other spurA gears` 5J and. 58 respectively. These other goals., 51,; and

53;` are secured to. a jack, shaft; 631- thatturns iny bearings not, shown. Whena rapid, movement. ef the. diaphragm controls is desired, a handle is applied, to a non-circular upper end of; thejael; shaft. 6,0; and such rol'leltion of the shafts 69.; is

transmitted tothe shaftAA 52A through the gea-isv` 5ly and 5.3.3. which. sive the.. shaft. 5,2 about three. turns. forv each. turnA of. the jack. shaft- 6.0r

Although theframe. 4,6 and thegearscarried by it arelocated at alixediposition. i'lhellens sup,- ports I;I, I2; and It,v arel free to moveboth lcngif tudinally and.v transverselyy Without interfering withy the. adjustmentl of theirdiaphragm con.- trols^ because 4the flexible shafts L4rv andA 50,".impart, the same rotationtol the lead-,screwsregardless of any longitudinal and transverse movement, of

thea supports I Ig, I2 and lby4 which the-lead;

screwsv are carried.

Thelens supports. Il, I2.` andA I3: are widely.

separated in Figurev l for. clearer.- illustration,

andthisdiagrammatic illustration doesnot shovv,A the angular relation. of the lens mountsy I5; I5: Figure 2r Tile 58 at a fllm gate l0. The lens in the lens mount I6 exposes a lm 'Il at a film gate 'I2 and the lens in the lens mount Il exposes a nlm 'I4 at a nlm gate 15. Partitions Within the multicamera structure are omitted for greater clearness in the drawing, and are. Well understood in the art.

Figure 3 shows the lens mount I6 with its lens elements 'Il and '18. The diaphragm control v. plates 35 and 38 extend downwardly through the slot 40 in the lens mount, and these diaphragm control plates extend across the space between the lens-elements. and 'I8 and then out through a slot 82 in the lower side of the lens mount I5.

Figure 4 shows the mechanical construction of the lensmount I6, and the construction of the other lens mounts is similar. The lens support I2 has a threaded opening 85 into which the lens mount I6 screws. The lower end of the lens support I2V is connected by a screw 86Y to a gibbed slide 81 that slides in anu undercut groove 83 in the top surface of a block. This sliding'rnovement of the gibbed slide 8'I'in the groove88-provides for transverse adjustment of the lenssup.- port I2, though ordinarily transverse movement is required only for the side lens supports. How,- ever, it is desirable to useA a; similar construction for allv three lens supports4 in` order to, have uni. formity in their manufacture.

The.leleelf:v is eerlneetefl with e. elbbed slide 92 by screws 93, and this `gibbed slide 9;2 fits intoa dove-tailed; groove orguideway 95m.y the top surface of a base platefi,v Therefare threesuch guideways 95 converging toward the forward end of the base plate 9,6 as will be apparentV fromy Figure 2; The slidesSlZ- move along thegrooves 95 to changeH the., focus of the cameraunits.

The mechanismy forvfocusing includes an ec centric 10i] which extends into a slot, in` the.

underside. ef; the; sihbedsllde 92.- This eeeentrle I Il0 isy attached; to the` upper' end Qf 2i,- hllb H32; Which rotates in;r the baserplate 9,5-1 as a,bearing, and thehub I-ll2 is rotated by alnob; ID3 atthe lower end ef e; shafts IMwhieh extendsthreusll aframe |054 atthe-bottorn of theY camera struc-V ture.

Similar eccentrics move the other lens sup`-v ports. Simultaneously and are eeeredtothe shaft |04 by gear-ing that is similar to that usedfor. affectingthe simultaneous diaphragm control.

The preferred-y construction of: the inventionA has been shown and; described,- blitharlges and modications can be made and some featuresv can beusedwithoutothersmr in different comleinetiens. without, departing: fremthe.- ilwentlen,`

as defined in the claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A multlfeemera structure; including@ in combination, a plurality of; lens; Supports; that'. Support. lenses with tiren:y axes and focal/.planes in angularv relation to one,` another; for; taking:

actuated elements and that provides a mechanical advantage for eiectingne adjustment of said rotary unit of the common adjusting device- 2..-,A multi-camera structure for taking mosaic pictures, said structure including in combination, a b ase having converging guideways therein, lens supports movable along the guideways, mechanism for moving all of the lens supports along their guideways simultaneously for focusing the camera structure for objects at different distances, a lens mount carried by each of the lens supports, each lens' mount comprising a sleeve enclosing spaced lens elements and having a slot extending through the upper and lower side of the sleeve at a region intermediate the lens elements, two overlapping plates extending through the slots in the upper and lower sides of each sleeve, said plates having overlapping openings with the center'of theaperture provided by the overlapping openings located substantially onthe optical axis of the lens, bearings carried by the lens supports above the lens mounts, extensions on opposite sides of the respective plates of each lens mount, a block connected with the extension of each plate, parallel lead 'screws threading throughj'the blocks and supported at opposite endsby said bearings, a gear secured to each of lead screws and meshing with the gear of the other lead screw so that rotation of one lead screw causes rotation of the other in the opposite direction, a diaphragm adjusting device located on a xed portion of the camera structure, and flexible shafting operably connecting the diaphragm adjusting device with one of the gears on each of the lens supports, and flexible shafting being constructed and arranged to transmit motion from the diaphragm adjusting device to the gears on the lens supports with the lens supports at any adjusted position lengthwise of the guideways along which said lens supports move to focus the camera structure or to correct for parallax errors.

3. In a camera a lens support, a diaphragm control comprising two overlapping plates, each having an opening therein, overlapping the opening in the other plate, a separate block connected with each plate, transversely spaced lead screws extending parallel to one another and threading through the respective blocks, gearing connecting the lead screws together for equal and simultaneous rotation in opposite directions, said gearing including a gear connected with each lead screw, and a diaphragm adjusting device connected with one of the gears for transmitting rotation to that gear and its lead screw and through that gear to the other gear and its connected lead screw to shift the plates in opposite directions and alter the degree of overlap of the openings through the plates while maintaining the region of the overlapping openings in a position along the axis of a lens carried by said support. f

4. A multi-camera structure for taking pictures that are to be projected for making a mosaic picture, said structure including a plurality of lens mounts that support lenses with their axes and focal planes in angular relation to one another, forwardly converging guideways connected with a relatively fixed part of the camera structure and on which the lens mounts are movable to focus the camera structure, a separate diaphragm control carried by each individual lens mount and movable as a unit with the lens mount along the converging guideways, a common adjusting device on the xed part of the camera structure, and flexible lmotion transmitting connections that are disposed between the common adjusting device andthe respective diaphragm controls and that transmit; correspondingY movements to all of the diaphragm controls substantially simultaneously and independently of their positions along the converging guideways. I, Y y g y y y ,5 A'multi-camera `structure for taking mosaic pictures,- said structure comprising a plurality `of separate lens supports that support lenses with their axes and focal planes in angular relation to one another, forwardly converging guideways., connected ,with a relatively fixed part of the lcamera structure, mechanism that moves the lens supports along said guideways to focus the lenses for objects atdiiferent distances from the camera structure, separate diaphragm controls on the diierent lens mounts, each vmovable as a unit with the lens mount along the guideway, a common adjusting devicelocated onthe 'xed part of the camera structure, and-a flexible motionV transmitting element connecting each of the separate ndiaphragm controlsl with the adjusting device on the fixed portion o f the camera to change all of the diaphragm adjustments equally and simultaneously for all positions vof the lens supports along the converging guideways. Y o

6. A multi-camera structure for taking pictures that are to be projected for making a mosaic picture, said structure including a plurality of lens mounts that support lenses with their axes in focal planes in angular relation to one another, forwardly converging guideways connected with a relatively fixed part of the camera structure and on which the lens mounts are movable in the direction of extent of the guideways to focus the lenses, mechanism that moves the lens supports along the guideways, other mechanism that moves at least one of the lens supports transversely of its axes and with respect 4to the next adjacent lens support to correct for parallax errors induced by the movement of the lens supports to change the focus of the lenses, separate diaphragm controls on the respective lens supports, a common diaphragm adjusting device on the xed portion of the camera structure, and flexible motion transmitting connections that are disposed between the common adjusting device and the respective diaphragm adjusting devices to move all of the diaphragm adjusting devices simultaneously and independently of their positions along the converging guideways.

'7. A multi-camera structure for taking pictures that are to be projected for making a mosaic picture, said structure including a plurality of closely spaced lens mounts that support lenses with their axes and focal planes in angular relation to one another, forwardly converging guideways connected with a relatively fixed part of the camera structure and on which the lens mounts are movable to focus the camera structure, a separate diaphragm control carried by each individual lens mount and comprising two overlapping plates, each having an opening therein overlapping the opening in the other plate, separate blocks connected with the respective plates and movable along adjacent but transversely spaced parallel courses, transversely spaced lead screws extending parallel to onel another and each threading through a different one of the respective blocks, and common operating mechanism for both lead screws including amarrar motion-transmitting" connections that;l rotate both of the lead? screws-'fin unison` to'V moverthef blocks= and' their connectedi platesY in oppositedii'ectionsl to-r vary the degree of`r` overlap.- of' the openings of the plates while maintaining they region of-"the overlapping openings in aV position along the axis of: a lens car-riedfbyw said1 support..

8. A multi-camera structure for taking mosaic pictures, saidst'ructureI comprising a plurality of separate 1ens-su11portsthat` support"V lenses with; their axes-amifocal planesV` in; angular reliaftion'` tooney another; each ofi saidlens supports in^v cluding a continuous sleeve surroundingthelens, forwardly'converging gui'dewaysconnected witha, relativelyl xed part of theV camera struc ture, mechanisml thatmoves:` the lensA supports along said? guideways to" focus theVV lenses-v for 013` jects` at. dii'erent `distances fromthe*v camera structurel, separatefdiapliragm@ controls on the different lens` mounts,- each movable as a-l unit with tlie-A lensy mount along the guideway.; andi eachA comprising plates that extendupwardlythroughslots' in the top' part of eachsleeveand that vhave overlappingv openings therethroughv within theIk sleeve, andi mechanism for' movingA thel plates-to varyf the degree of overlap of:4 the openingsD a common'v adjusting device locatedi onthehxed part of4 the camera: structure, andi av flexible motion transmitting element connecting.v

8 the@ plate moving mechanism of: each of the separate diaphragm controls with the adjusting device'I on tl'lel 'xed portion of they camera toA change all of' thel diaphragmadjustments equally andf simultaneously for all positions off theJ lens supports along the converging' guide ways; A

RICHARD-C.' BABISHI REFERENCES CITED The following. references are of record inv they le of: this. patent:

UNITED STATES- PATENTS 

